I don’t know what I thought this year would be. All I know is no matter the plans made or the list or the goals, sometimes you have to be ok with the flow embracing the uncertainty, because well, it feels good doing so.

What would seem like a pretty stellar year, I’m more than fine with it ending. It is time to say goodbye to 2022 and welcome 2023. Here are my 2022 top 3 trails and some lessons I learned along the way:

1. Heybrook Fire Lookout in Central Cascades, WA

Lessons: Smallest moments are the best moments.

Sometimes small, sweet moments bring me the most joy, especially if it involves hiking to a fire lookout or a hut or running into random things at random places at random times. Stopping to notice little things can inject a little wonder into your life and make you feel happy. So, if you pay attention to the little things, you will make life more fun.

The Trail

Heybrook Lookout is a hike through a fern and moss-covered forest to a fun lookout with great views of the nearby mountains. The lookouts were primarily built during the early 1900s after a series of devastating fires made early detection a priority for the US Forest Service. Gina and I did it on the way to the Enchantments.

This trail is short, and while a bit of climbing is required, it’s a great ratio of effort to reward. The lookout is built atop a metal structure with 89 steps, and it has an expansive view over the river valley and the mountains surrounding it. The fire lookout was originally constructed in 1925 and later rebuilt in 1965. From there, you can spot Mount Persis, Mount Baring and Mount Index.

You can spend a night in fire the lookout, and reservations can be made through recreation.gov

Hiking up the Heybrook Fire Lookout

2. Conrad Kain Hut to Applebee Dome, BC

Lessons: What’s meant for you will find you.

Sometimes you cross paths with people and the genuine connection is there, but you are still not destined to journey together, which is okay. You will build friendships along the trail. It may take a lot of patience, a lot of overcoming challenges, and a lot of moments of despair, but what’s meant for you will always be worth the wait.

I have gone solo a lot, but having a trail buddy on the trail makes it enjoyable. I wrote about finding a good hiking buddy here and how important it is to find someone that matches your skills and abilities. Though hiking solo or with others is both fun and serves different purposes, not everyone should have access to you. Your time and energy are precious and you don’t have to apologize for filling your cup and doing what is best for you. You do you. 

The Trail

I usually stop by Purcell Mountains to ski, but this year I saw a different side of this area, and it blew my mind.

While Kain Hut to Applebee Dome is a hard-rated trail, it did not include any scramble; however, it would have been classified as a climb if not for the ladder and chains that assist with ascending. Also, it now included scraped knees, bruises and possibly broken bones. Officially not broken but still, it hurts once in a while.

The Conrad Kain Hut sits on a rocky shelf with a panoramic view of both spires. It was named after the famous mountaineer who guided over 60 expeditions in the Canadian Rockies, including the first in 1910. 

It was an excellent spot for lunch. From there, it’s another km to summit the Applebee Dome, where we drank whiskey with our new American friends. Bugaboo Provincial Park is legendary. Bugaboo Spire is known for steep, clean, solid granite, high above easy glacier approaches. 

The sight of the Bugaboo Glacier below the two spires will astound you, and you’ll never want to leave. I could have spent days just exploring. And drink more whiskey. I would love to go back to try and climb some elementary 5.4 routes on the Snowpatch Spire, which stands at 3084m compared to El Capitan at 2308m. It is freaking glorious. 

How To Get There

Kain Hut is situated in Bugaboo Provincial Park, in the jagged Purcell Mountains of southeast BC. This place is pretty hard to reach and the forest service road that gets you there is a nightmare. Jill and I had a late start, noon, but we made it to the hut in 2.5 hours. Overall the trail is short but steep and climbs through a forest and small but beautiful meadows. The wildflowers were still in bloom, September long weekend! The views of the Hound’s Tooth, with the Bugaboo glacier flowing past the spire and down the valley, are continual and astounding throughout the hike.

Hiking up to Applebee Dome

3. The Onion and The Bow Hut, AB

Lessons: Growth doesn’t happen in places where you’re comfortable.

Growth occurs outside of our comfort zone, in a place or a state that will probably make you uncomfortable, unsure, or even occasionally anxious, such as hiking alone with no network or GPS device. I know, I know, I never said I was smart. But let me tell you one thing, my love for the mountains grows with every trip, where I feel most at home, which is quite ironic as it should be the opposite of its literal meaning.

The Trail

Having never done the Onion before, I was curious to see what the fuss was about. Well, it was phenomenal. The terrain was slow going and tough at times, with boulder fields, stream crossings, and lots of roots. It took me about 3 hours to cover the distance to the Bow Hut from the Bow Lake Trailhead, then another hour to the summit. The Bow Hut is mainly used as a stop for the famous Wapta Icefield ski traverse. But you can also pee there!

The rock formations past the hut are out of this world, slow going but fun and challenging. It’s a great introductory scramble, I would say. On the top the views are expansive, and I spent some time wandering around the summit with my two onions, taking the views of St. Nick’s, Mt. Gordon, Mt.Thomspon and the captivating Icefield.

On the way down, I lacked much-needed goat skills and fell on some loose scree hurting my hand. And since I was solo, I had to convince myself to keep going, keep it together and dig deep. I am now in physio for tearing ligaments in my right hand believe it or not.

Hiking up the Onion

2022 Total Stats

This is my third time writing about my top summits. I kind of love that opportunity to both reminisce and review my list that I seem to be adding to every time I cross a summit off of it. It’s not real if I don’t write it down, right?

Distance: 493km

Elevation gain: 21, 362m

Related

You can read about my failed hikes and lessons learned here and for my last year’s top 3 summits read here.

In 2023, I hope you find time to be happy.

Happy Adventuring!

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